Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1887-11-10
ing our ride. and now ho had II at bis

mouth every few minutes. With every
drink his rage increased. and he pour
ed upon my head all the vile curses and
foul names he could think of or invent.
He kicked and cutfed me. struck me
almost stunning blows on the head with
the butt of his revolver, and took
! devilish pleasure in picturing the tor
ments to which would be subjected.
From the way he tilted the canteen I
could see that it would soon be empty,
and fully expected that my life would
end with the liquor.
He was mad with rage and drunken
ness.
He drained the last drop and threw
the vessel from him, then sat for time
in moody silence, casting glances of
hate at ME and playing with his re-
volver.
"At last. with terrible oath that he
would Finish me now" he rose and
placed the pistol whiting three inches
of my forehead.
He meant to kill me, l could see it in
his eyes. He delayed moment in
pulling the trigger. The little black
woman sprang for him and grasped his
arms.
Not here! not here!' she cried pite<
ously.
The man turned upon her. was so
tied hand and foot. that could neither
aid nor escape. That woman chung 10
him, he could not shake her off, nor
| could his blows hurt her much at such
close quarters.
Two shots he fired without effect,
while the woman struggled and writh-
ed and wound herself about him.
TO more easily grasp her lie must
have looscned his hold on the pistol. ut
all events it flew from his hand and fell
| behind an old box that was standing in
| Il corner. His hands both free. he
seized the poor creature by the throat.
choked her almost into insensibility.
then fled and slammed" her in q
helpless mass on the dirty floor.
There was no hope for me now.
Painting with his exertions he made
his way to the box. and his head turn
ell to watch me. grouped with his hand
for the pistol.
Muttering hot curses he fumbled
around for moment or two. then gave
Il start, a quick glance at the dark cav
ity and uttered fearful yell. straight
! ened up, and | saw tho most frightful.
terror-strickcn face my eyes ever look
ed upon.
In second long. thin. black body
| glided across the floor and out of the
door. 1t was huge rattlesnake, and
its fangs had closed we'll and deadly in
the hand of my would-be-assassin.
The courage and bravado were all
gone from HIM. lie called upon the
woman, on me, on Heaven, to aid him.
The woman was still scnscless. | was
bound so could not move. and for Il
long time | was forced to witness the
most terri BILE sight of my life.
At last the black mistress of the
place recovered. In dazed way she
saw that our enemy was Frustrated;
she cuG the ropes that bound me, and
both of us did what we could to aid the
unhappy wretch. The liquor he had
drank made the poison more slow in its
effect but il was not able TO save him.
We had no remedies. aud the woman
could tell me uf no place near by where
might procure help.
In less than three hours, as near as
| could Judge. Kingsley was a bloate d
corpse more revolving even in death
than in lite.
He had taken my trousers as his
share of my clothing. In the pockets
| found nv watch, irinkets and money.
Of the latter my colOred friend had the
largest share. Twas very sorry l could
do nothing for the snake.
| threw the lead body over the
mules back and carried it mile Oh
more from the hut so as to prevent the
people from getting into trouble.
left the terrible look NC object in /
thicket and the woman promised me
that "her man" should bury it after he
came home that night. Then tur nee
the mule loose, mounted my horse ant
rode back to the post, where | astonish
ed all who saw me, and gave rs little
explanation of my adventure rs IcOuld
That night spent with Colonel G.
and his fam ly. but | was not in my
best uniform or my usual spirits. Tc
the old gentleman in confidence l tolc
my adventure.
| often dream that time over, and an
not ashamed to wake and find that my
life does not depend on a strange de,
llvcrance as before. B. Wilson.